I believe this is the very first time custom weapon mods were created for Half Sword Demo and shared. While I am the pioneer for this, it was actually Sable who discovered and shared the json mod method. This is also the largest and most comprehensive as of now. All weapons goes through days of testing and adjustments for these processes after initial idea:

~Mass and Geometry and how it affects speed, balance and stamina
~Geometry re-adjustments to eliminate or minimize visual clippings and re-balancing mass and balance again
~Color and texture selection for aesthetics, to make them special and feels good 'owning' it.
~Hours or days of play and testing on tiers 3 to 7
~Making one new weapon usually takes 2 days to a even a week
~The goal is create weapon handling that is intuitive for the skilled players for them to achieve beautiful combo moves, and is also welcoming for the new players.
~The aim is create weapons not available in the standard game, whether historically or geographically accurate, or fantasy lore based.


VICIOUS WEAPON PACK 1, 2 & 3 (First Published 19th May 2025, Last Updated 20th June 2025)

Please download all 3 Packs if you don't have them prior. (All the previous mini packs 3.11-3.14 are now reconsolidated into the existing Pack 3)

1. To load these custom items into you Half Sword Demo game, you FIRST need the OVRDTH' Selector Mod at Nexusmods.com

2. Follow OVRDTH instruction on how to use it.

3. Locate the "OVRDTH'S SELECTION" folder in your computer, usually its at the Documents folder.

4. Then within, locate the "pooled_saves" folder, make sure you set your computer to view hidden files and folder.

4a. If you can't find "pooled_saves", then search your computer for this file: SG Player Equipment.sav and there should have many such files, one original one generated by the game, and many others which are the modded ones in Ovrdth Selector pooled saves. Locate the pooled_saves via the file path.

5. Copy and paste the "CARE2SHARE" folder into the pooled_saves folder, this contains the Loadouts that holds these custom modded items. 

6. Have fun.

Please give my Tiktok channel a Like or Follow if I helped you:
https://www.tiktok.com/@antonc_halfsworden

Or join me on the Half Sword Discord or Subreddit.

Discord:
Bitter-Relative147

My Reddit is:
https://www.reddit.com/user/Bitter-Relative147/

ISSUES & IMPORTANT READS:

PACK 3 (Includes consolidated previous mini packs)

O-Katana Nodachi (Latest addition to Pack3 20th June 2025)
This is a larger and heavier Katana that slashes better than the previous Katana from Pack 2 and it performs well even against Tier 7/8 high armored opponents. It is slightly slower than the previous Katana but no slower than the stock longswords of the game. 


3.14 (Published date: 12th June 2025)
Castle Gate Battering Ram
Please use halfsword grip to manage the weight. Weapon is OP and kills everything you swing at. Unfortunately it could not breach the castle gate. So we remain trapped till new maps arrived in the future. 

Electric Skin Shaver - WARNING
Was initially reluntance to release this crazy weapon. Use at your own risk and discretion. It is violent and gore making. Hold in halfsword grip, then hold down the right mouse button, this turns on the 'electric switch' and you will feel the shaver vibrating. Move the blade around unarmored NPC (preferably knock them down to the ground first) and you will see their clothes and skin get shredded in no way achievable by other weapons. Takes seconds to deskin a Willy once you get the feel of it. Works best for Tier 2 and 3 without armor. 

Type XX Longsword Broad
I realized I never included a simple longsword that is tuned and balanced. So here it is, a Type 20 blade that is long and broad like a greatsword but still in longsword class of grip. With a slim and fast arming sword as sidearm, retaining the same Type 20 blade profile.


3.13 (Published date: 7th June 2025)
Cup-Hilt Rapier & Full Gold Italian Poleaxe
A new Cup-Hilt Rapier in shinning mirror polished steel, with a thinner blade. The handle looks like its wrapped with shiny heat-blued steel wire, very beautiful. Alongside is the older Rapier version and full knucklebow Lange Messer, but they now comes with new metalic silverish look to match the new cup hilt rapier. Very beautiful. A full gold version of the roundhead Italian poleaxe that is very well balanced and satisfying to use. The rear spike is a bit long due to balancing needs, so if you if use X key to change sides a lot, do remember to keep your back arm higher when you hit X key. With beautiful silver sword and rose gold hammers as side arms. That hammer, is powerful, and is the last ditch survival weapon.


3.12 Mallets (Published date: 6rd June 2025)
Added a Wooden Mallet and a War Mallet in shiny steel. The wooden one is for unarmored fights and will be harder to win against higher armored opponents. The steel one is better suited especially against Tier 7/8.


Pack 3.11 Wooden Swords (Published date: 3rd June 2025)

Includes both blunts and sharpened version. All comes with a sharpened wooden arming sword as sidearm. All individually balanced and tuned, will have slightly faster speed than steel swords to make some real world sense. What doesn't make sense is the sharpened wooden swords will decap and dismember as easily as steel swords and achieve sharpness and strength of steel. Well, its a game afterall. If you prefer realism, the blunt swords are great, they do only blunt damage and a little cutting damage at times when the sharpened tip slices the enemy. Just like real world. If you zoom in with camera mode and see, you will see they are like a thick plank of wood in shape of a sword blade. No cutting damage. Enjoy.


***Javelins Long & Short***

This is a skill based weapon (just like in real life!), which means if your control and timing messes up, the javelin will just drop to the ground, or you might even hit yourself during the fumble. The throwing/launching movement rely on the 'ALT key stab in half sword position', which is essentially holding the weapon in half sword position with ALT key and RMB held down, and then moving the mouse front and back. When you move the javelin to the front and at the end of the stab stroke, release RMB and press E key at the same time and the javelin will be thrown forward. It helps not to have Shift Key held down during this as it lowers body position and thus the flight height. It also helps to move forward or laterally to the left usually as you do so. It helps to practice without enemies or kill them first. 

How is it different from throwing the usual stock weapons in the game? This Javelin mod is specifically balanced via item geometry and mass to work with the game physics and gravity to optimize for throwing, enabling you to aim straight and enabling the javelins to travel further. If you can't get it to work, then move on. I imagine there will probably be a lot of criticism or complaints. It is afterall a modded item that requires a high level of player skill and control but there will be people who can pull it off and enjoy it. 

SMUG on youtube has a tutorial on how to do the Half Sword stab, a little different from my method but it will work the same if you press E to release the Javelin at the end of the stroke. https://youtu.be/rhw0QTrhLTQ?si=ye6Wxnxb6q-NhbU9

Reddit Video to demonstrate how it is done:
https://www.reddit.com/r/HalfSword/comments/1kzvfi9/how_far_can_you_throw_the_javelin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Additional Modder's Note for this particular Javelin:
The creative intent and application of adjusting geometry, mass and gravity of items in Half Sword via geometry adjustments and orientations, and weight/mass distribution, via this sav file by editing vector figures and the selection of specific available game assets so as to achieve desired mass distribution, and colors, in order to create ranged throwing weapons, is unique to the author. Other mod creators and users may not edit, modify or create derivatives out of this, with the exception of Half Sword Games and Game Seer Publishing who owns the game. In other words please do not lift or copy this particular mod to create your own version by changing some figures or parts. This is unique to me and any small changes in mass will throw the balance out of order.


***Blunts HUGE 2H Menancing Spiked Club***

This is the classic weapon in fantasy games wielded by orges, giants or berserkers and barbarians. It is heavy, as it should be for such a huge lump of iron. It is wieldable normally but if you are having problems, use the halfsword grip and you should see Willy speed up a lot.


Blacksmith's Anvil
A heavy lump of steel to bash heads. As we mod a lot of military and knightly weapons, Peasants and Serf improvised weapons should not be neglected.

Golden Mace Sword
A heavy mace sword that took a long time to balance and its also the weapon that taught me a lot about balancing weapons. This is a fun play for blunt lovers whether you like mace or you like swords.

Hat & Cloak Hanger
Time to include improvised weapons from daily medieval life. This is a funny one inspired by the original Long Candlestick Holder. There are two spikes in front, and the base is heavy. It is unbalanced for combat, wonky and too heavy, as it should be. I use it by simply holding it in front and walking towards enemies. Or couch down and duck walk towards enemies with it and it actually works to impale lower tiers. Sometimes I just put it down and yes, it will stand like the training dummy and I use it as a barrier to fight the enemy around it with sword stabs. For unusual break from the norm fun. Not every weapon needs to be deadly and refined. They just need to be a little vicious.

Half Spear & Star Disc Mace
I guess in real world history spear shafts gets broken in combat, no doubt about that. But it turns out to be a great melee weapon at half its length. Probably why spear is the king of weapons. Star Disc mace is a disk mace that is spikey.

Half Spear Harpoon
The halved version of the Harpoon, and a mini version. Deadly because it is a spear.

Mordhau Broken Sword
Finally a Mordhau grip sword. This is a greatsword that is broken halfway at the blade, turned around to use it Mordhau.

Mordhau Heavy Great Sword
A HUGE, extra heavy greatsword used in Mordhau grip. I prefer the earlier Broken Sword personally.

Bardiche Titanium big and small
Beautifully crafted in titanium finishing and beautiful shape. Very happy with the balance despite the head of the big one being so huge and heavy.

Guisarmes
The long one is using the shaft from the Baron's polearm, so it will have the disappearing issue of you arm it in your left hand and press X key. I tried to be as close to history as limitation allows. The Scorpion version is a bit too far from historic shape but its as good as I could get it. 

Spiked Lug Partisan and Spiked Lug Spear
Finally managed to get the Partisan shape! This Partisan gets a second set of bladed lugs to parry, hook, and sidestab. The Lug Spear is similar to the previous pack's Hewing spear but shorter, and instead of cutting lugs, these have decorated hammerspike lugs.

Full Metal Jacketted Quarterstaff and Full Metal Long Dueling Staff
The Full Metal Long Dueling staff is the long version of the Full Metal Dueling staff of Pack 2, so it is still heavy and slow, thus 'dueling' staff; non as lethal and deadly and good for practicing. Play with these slower heavy staves for a while and then switch to the other staves and you will see your skills go up.
The Full Metal JACKETTED quarterstaff looks like a metal staff from the outside, but the insides are still wood, so it is lighter, while longer and more damaging. 

Dual Hook Swords
A Discord request so here it is. Inspired off the Chinese hook swords. I made two so you can dual wield or you can drop one to two-hand the other.

Early Sidesword with Finger Ringguard and Spiked Buckler shield.
The sword is inspired from a historic early form of sidesword seen in the Royal Armouries; The Arsenal at Alexandria; the Baron de Cosson Collection. But the spiked buckler shield is fantasy.
https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-121

Pickhammer and Sledgehammer (Rebalanced 20th June 2025)
Continuation of the Ore Miner theme from Pack 2 (Shovel Axe). Pick hammer is a forward facing pick to stab into rocks and human body. Many people had requested for the pick/spike/bec de corbin of polearms to face forward and thus here it is. Sledgehammer is a huge heavy impact hammer to crash thru rocks and castle walls. It is heavy, and it hits heavy. 

2H Battle Axe Full Dark Steel (Rebalanced 20th June 2025)
Lighter now without sacrificing power.


PACK 2

***Katana & Wakizashi, and also Kriegmesser Dark Steel Slim***

Because these swords are using a modded falchion blade which is singled sided, on a movement/grip module of swords which is two sided, sometimes we get random blunt hits instead of cuts when the system perceive it as the blunt side of the falchion hitting. This is my guess. Pressing the X key once to change hand grip position to left hand primary may help, otherwise it seems to be either random or dependent upon the stroke. There is nothing I could do for this issue because its simply the fixed game structure's limitation with modding because i) it is a single sided blade, ii) it is a modded weapon that uses the standard sword movements, thus, we can only use the left bias for these three modded swords to work properly. This is why I also put the single-handed Wakizashi is also armed on the left draw scabbard position. 

***Roman Pilum Javelin***
A super well balanced Shield & Spear alternative coz the Pilum will always aim high instead of tilting to the ground. The Pilum will pierce faces and heads. The way to use it is to constantly hold down ALT key, arm the shield and move your right arm front and back to stab. Find your own way to key bind it to your mouse side button or a ghetto way is to use a stationary store's binder clip or a clothing peg to clip down the ALT key of your keyboard.

***Berserk Gutz' Dragonslayer***

There is no way to please everyone because this is a fantasy sword that needs to work in a Physics-based game. Based on my estimation using a steel weight calculator this sword will weight around 40lbs to 80lbs whereas a common great sword weights below 7lb to 8lb. Willie simply is not strong enough, he is not Gutz in a fantasy story. The weapon needs to work in the game or else it is just a decoration on the ground. Thus, the dimensions and mass are made to push the limits of what is workable for Willie in the game. Balancing via geometry tuning and some trickery with material mass has been done, so the sword is heavy but workable. Maybe one day I will reveal the details of the balancing tune but you can already see visually the blade is of two materals; the spine is thick, the actual cutting edge is razor sharp. So it will cleave if you wield it right and it will still sometimes send opponents flying if you end up landing good blunt blows. 

**2H Battle Axe Full Dark Steel Heavy!** (under the Blunts section)

Sometimes due to whatever reasons behind scenes of the game engine, Willie can't lift up this weapon or it 'trembles' in his hands like he is too weak to manage it. In such case trying hitting the X key to change grip, or go into halfsword position and then back to standard grip, this will fix it most of the time. I do not know why, it wasn't an issue when I made this weapon but after the recent Half Sword mini-update it becomes like this. If this happens to the other heavy weapons, ie the Berserk Gutz Dragonslayer, try this remedy as well.


How to use it effectively based on my testing:

-Using X button to switching hand grip position matters if you want good strokes. 
This move is slower due to the size of the sword but important if you want the sword to glide the air with proper direction strokes.

-Momentum is very important, treat it as a heavy polearm. 
Tempo is even more important, its a slow weapon, but rewarding when done right. If you tried to swing it too frequent and fast, your strokes will suffer and mess up.

-Halfsword position mitigates a lot of weight and speed problem, and it is also the way to fight higher armored tiers. In Halfsword position the huge sword also acts as a shield! Bonus point!

-A good way to work momentum is with footwork, ie moving diagonally left with sword in La Posta Di Donna or Poste Fenestra guard and then swinging right, and vice versa. 

-Lifting the sword above head level is slow, so do it early when Willie is fresh with energy, often early in the round Willie will move faster.

-Most swings will biase towards the ground, simply due to the weight. Using kicks to slightly launch yourself into the air helps at times at the cost of stamina.

-Often Willie will lose grip on one hand while trying to move the sword, slow down. 

-This sword is not for beginners, but players good in polearms will find it right at home.


Quarterstaff and Man-Catcher disappearing.
All the long quarterstaffs and the man-catcher-polearm will disappear if you Press X while it is held on your left hand, so don't do that. Its a glitch from the Demo Version that happens to the Baron's polearm. As the long quarterstaff and mancatcher's shaft part is modded from the Baron's polearm, this issue inherently brought over.


Talhoffer Dueling Shield 
This is not automatically held in defence position, you can either hold it out front using ALT and LMB or if you want it to be held passively in defence then you need to arm it. To do so simply press RMB/Right Mouse Click and the character will move the shield up by doing a 'bicep curl' and then the shield is in defence position, it may take some wriggling or moving a bit. I find it easier if you move your right weapon arm backwards like in a "Tailguard' position of sword fencing, get the right leg back, then click RMB.

Large Harpoon
Over-Powered weapon. But we all need a few OP weapons at times to vent our frustrations. If you wanna play fairer then use it against the higher armored tiers, there is two Loadout, one in shinning white armor the other is an unarmed fisherman pirate. Use it like a polearm but the "thrown sword" method works the best against armored, check out SMUG's tutorial on the technique on youtube for that technique.

Shovel Axe
Willie is an ore miner! In the 15th century miners are freemen and not slaves or serfs, and they can be very wealthy from the metal trade or simply harvesting silver. His shovel is a full steel contruction, sharped like an axe and well balanced. It works super good on enemies lying on the ground when you down stab them with it, sometimes severing the head. Satisfying metal bonk flat on the face at times and the opponent get stunned. Otherwise its like a two handed axe.

Dark Steel Halberd and Dark Steel Chinese Guandao polearms
The Dark Steel Halberd is a halberd that looks like a halberd instead of a voulge, (although the game's original vougle looking halberds are indeed early halberds). Well balanced and fast, no drag, no pointing on the ground. The Chinese Guandao polearm is similarly tuned. 

Hewing Spear & Full Metal Warhammer
Probably my most overpowered weapon so far, simply due to design. The spike lugs of the hewing spear gets you hits over shields when without them the polearm would had been blocked by the shields.The spike lugs are also sharpened backwards, so if you missed a head stab, pull the spear back and you might behead the opponent, likewise it shears off arms and legs during the pull back movement of the spear, or gets embedded when it stabs in. Well tuned to be agile and fast. But against Tier 8 knights, it no longer OP because its too light weight. That is why there is a FULL METAL WARHAMMER for you to cave in their helmets.

Italian Poleaxes
Round headed axe version of the standard, but better tuned for movement and balance.

Dueling Quarterstaff Extra Long with Metal Endcaps & *Full Metal Quarterstaff*
With the extra long quarterstaff remember not to hit X key when you are holding it singled handed on your left hand. Very well balanced, thats why I call it a dueling staff, for the quarterstaff lovers.

The full metal quarterstaff is the most beautiful custom weapon here I made IMHO, but super hard to balance. This really took too much hours to fine tune.

Rapiers & Sabres
All light and fast swords. The Rapier will especially point high at chest level and its optimized for ALT stabbing. If you hold ALT and go front and back with RMB, it works best. 

The Blunts Clubs & Bars
Enjoy the red splatter! For 2H Battle Axe Full Dark Steel Heavy... sometimes due to whatever reasons behind scenes of the game engine, Willie can't lift up this weapon or it 'trembles' in his hands like he is too weak to manage it. In such case trying hitting the X key to change grip, or go into halfsword position and then back to standard grip, this will fix it most of the time. I do not know why, it wasn't an issue when I made this weapon but after the recent Half Sword mini-update it becomes like this. If this happens to the other heavy weapons, ie the Berserk Gutz Dragonslayer, try this remedy as well. 


PACK 1

One day I will write some intro for PACK 1, but just play and find out yourself I guess. Pack 1 is the earliest pack so the mods were not as complicated as Pack 2 and 3.